Causes of Heart Hardness
The heart becomes hardened when compassion, gentleness, and humility are absent. Heart hardness refers to its severity and rigidity. Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him) defined a hardened heart as one that is dry and unyielding, akin to a rock, incapable of being affected by faith or knowledge, which requires a soft heart. Allah (Exalted and Sublime) warned against heart hardness in the Quran, stating: “Is one whose breast Allah has expanded for Islam, so he is upon a light from his Lord, [like one] whose heart is hardened? So woe to those whose hearts are hardened from the remembrance of Allah. Those are in clear deviation.” There are several reasons for heart hardness, including:
Excessive Sins
When a servant commits numerous sins, a veil forms over their heart, causing it to harden. Conversely, when the heart is free of sins, it remains soft. Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated from the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), saying: “When the believer commits a sin, a black spot appears on his heart. If he repents, ceases, and seeks forgiveness, his heart is polished. But if he continues, the blackness increases until it envelops his heart, as Allah Almighty has mentioned in the Quran: ‘Nay! Rather, the stain has covered their hearts because of what they were earning.’”
Neglecting the Remembrance of Allah and Contemplation of the Quran
The remembrance of Allah serves as a remedy for the heart against all forms of negligence, as it consistently reminds the servant of their Creator, melting away heart hardness. When one forgets the remembrance of Allah, their heart hardens, as explained by Allah: “And whoever turns away from My remembrance – indeed, he will have a constrained life, and We will gather him on the Day of Resurrection blind.”
Allah (Exalted and Sublime) stated that if His words were revealed upon a mountain, it would crumble in fear of Him. Thus, a heart should be humble and reflective, as Allah says: “If We had sent down this Qur’an upon a mountain, you would have seen it humbled and crashing down from fear of Allah. And these examples We present to the people that perhaps they will give thought.”
Lack of Compassion for Creation
Compassion towards creatures involves treating them with kindness. When an individual shows kindness towards any of Allah’s creations, their heart softens, leading to compassionate interaction. Conversely, a lack of compassion can result in hardness of heart. A narration from Um al-Mu’minin Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) recounts that a Bedouin approached the Prophet (peace be upon him) and said, “Do you kiss the children?” The Bedouin continued, “We do not kiss them.” The Prophet replied: “What can I do if Allah has removed compassion from your heart?”
Excessive Hope and Desires
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) cautioned against excessive hope, which distracts individuals from the Hereafter, leading them to commit sinful acts, delay repentance, and anticipate rewards from Allah without exerting effort in good deeds. When a servant is prevented from repenting, their heart becomes hardened. Through sincere repentance, the servant converses with their Lord and sheds tears, longing for His forgiveness, as they do not know when their time will come. At that moment, lengthy hopes are of no benefit.
Treatment of Heart Hardness
The human heart fluctuates between softness and hardness based on one’s actions, whether sinful or virtuous. When a servant commits sins, it is essential for them to return to Allah to remedy the effects of their actions through repentance and seeking forgiveness. Allah has praised His repentant servants, stating: “Indeed, Ibrahim was forbearing, [and] once he was penitent.” There are several means to alleviate heart hardness, including:
Increasing the Remembrance of Allah
The remembrance of Allah brings joy and tranquility to the heart. A believer feels Allah’s watchfulness over them in every situation, for remembering Allah ensures they are not forgotten by Him. When they err, they turn back to Him for forgiveness and repentance, thereby escaping punishment. Through remembrance, Allah forgives sins, erases misdeeds, elevates ranks, and bestows serenity upon the soul. Allah says: “Unquestionably, by the remembrance of Allah hearts are assured.” The more the heart neglects Allah, the harder it becomes, resulting in a condition where the heart dies while the body remains alive. As the Messenger of Allah said, “The example of the one who remembers his Lord and the one who does not is like the living and the dead.”
Reading the Quran and Reflecting on Its Verses
Allah (Exalted and Sublime) commands His servants to listen to, ponder, and understand the Quranic verses, so they may earn great reward and virtue. Engaging with the Quran enriches a believer’s life in this world and the Hereafter, enhancing their faith and inviting mercy into their hearts, which in turn leads them to a path of compliance with Allah’s commands and avoidance of His prohibitions. The heart is the foundation of every action, and if Allah’s words can cause a mountain to tremble, how should the heart of a servant respond?
Seeking Forgiveness and Repentance
Frequent seeking of forgiveness and repentance, coupled with a commitment to avoid persistent sin, softens the heart and fills it with the light of Allah. A servant should return to their Creator whenever they sin, as Allah says: “Say, ‘O My servants who have believed, fear your Lord. For those who do good in this world is good, and the earth of Allah is spacious. Indeed, the patient will be given their reward without account.’” Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet mentioned in a sacred hadith that Allah said: “A servant committed a sin and said, ‘O Allah, forgive me my sin.’ Allah replied: ‘My servant has sinned and knows that he has a Lord who forgives sin and punishes for it.’ Then he sinned again, saying, ‘O my Lord, forgive me my sin.’ And Allah repeated His response. Then he sinned a third time, made the same plea, and Allah responded: ‘My servant has sinned, and he knows he has a Lord who forgives sin and punishes for it. Do as you wish; I have forgiven you.’”
Compassion Towards Orphans and the Needy
Abu Huraira narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: “If you want your heart to soften, then feed the needy and gently stroke the head of an orphan.”
Remembering Death and Visiting Graves
Frequent reflection on death motivates a person to engage in good deeds, softening the heart. Similarly, visiting the graves and recalling the deceased serves as a reminder, while neglecting the reality of death can lead to heart hardness. The Prophet visited his mother’s grave and wept, causing those around him to weep as well. He then said: “I sought permission from my Lord to ask forgiveness for her, but it was not granted to me; I sought permission to visit her grave and was granted that. Thus, visit the graves, for they remind of death.”